Wildlife Section Chief Dennis Simon says the online survey is not a substitute for the department’s periodic formal survey of waterfowl hunters. But he says it’s another way for Minnesota waterfowl hunters to weigh in on potential regulations for the upcoming and future seasons.

The DNR must make its annual decisions on waterfowl hunting seasons in a tight time frame. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces its regulatory framework in August. The DNR, in turn, must make decisions that take effect in September.